ironing machine



1964 Q L. E. SCHRADER ETAL 3,113,241 4 IRONING MACHINE Filed Aug. 29, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 1964 L. E. SCHRADER ETAL 3,118,241

IRONING MACHINE Filed Aug. 29, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 VENT R6. 407127? 2756974 67" 1954 1.. E. SCHRADER ETAL 3,118,241

IRONING MACHINE Filed Aug. 29, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS. 107871 Z7Jc$raaer 4e 6'. CavrpZe/Z Jan. 21, 1964 E. SCHRADER ETAL 3,118,241

IRONING MACHINE Filed Aug. 29, 1960 4 Shets-Sheet 4 INV NTOKS. 407677 .2756 74187- United States Patent 3,118,241 IRONING MACHINE Loren E. Schrader, Mount Clemens, and Le Roy C. Campeil, Goodells, Mish assignors to Ironrite, Inc, Mount Clemens, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Filed Aug. 29, 1960, Ser. No. 52,424 1%) Claims. (Cl. 3S59) This invention relates generally to ironers and more particularly to an ironer having an improved control for the driven ironer roll.

Conventional ironers include a frame having a stationary shoe mounted thereon and a rotatable roll mounted so that it is movable toward and away from the shoe which usually contains the heating elements. Most ironers include a clutch mechanism for controlling the rotation of the roll so that it is rotatable only when it is in engagement with the shoe, thus preventing any danger of the operator or items being handled becoming entangled in the rotating roll when it is away from the shoe. The primary object of this invention, therefore, is to provide an improved mechanism for controlling rotation of the ironer roll; mechanism which provides for selective rotation of the roll only when it is engagement with the shoe. In the ironer of this invention, a planetary gear clutch mechanism is interposed in the drive mechanism for the roll so that the planetary gear mechanism can be actuated to provide for rotation of the roll. A member which controls the position of the roll relative to the shoe is provided with mechanism which prevents actuation of the planetary gear clutch mechanism and consequent rotation of the roll at all times other than when the roll is against the shoe.

Further objects, features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following description when taken in connection with the appended claims and the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the ironing machine of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse sectional view of the ironing machine of this invention looking substantially along the line 2-2 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a portion of the ironing machine of this invention;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the ironing machine of this invention looking substantially along the line 4-4 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURES 5 and 6 are sectional views looking substantiaflly along the lines 5-5 and 66 in FIGURE 4; and

FIGURES 7, 8, 9 and 10 are diagrammatic views showing progressively moved positions of the clutch mechanism for the ironer roll in the ironing machine of this invention.

With reference to the drawing, the ironer of this invention indicated generally at 10, is illustrated in FIG- URES l and 2 as including a supporting frame 12 on which a conventional ironing shoe 14, which is heated by means of heating elements (not shown) disposed therein, is supported. An ironer roll 16, supported on the upper ends of -a pair of upwardly inclined arms 18, is movable into engagement with the shoe 14 during ironing and is movable to a position spaced from the shoe during manipulation and removal of an article being ironed. The arms 18 are connected at their lower ends by a tubular member 2% which is rotatably supported in an upstanding gear housing 22 mounted on the frame 12. A shaft 24 is rotatably supported in the tube 26 and drives a gear train 26 which drives the roll 16 and is mounted in one of the arms 18.

A motor 28 is secured to one side of the housing 22 and has a horizontal drive shaft 34} formed at its terminal end as a gear 32. A gear 34 positioned above and in meshing engagement with the gear 32 is fixed on a tubular member 36 formed with external spline teeth 33. The tubular member 36 is rotatably supported on a fixed shaft 49 carried by the gear housing 22 and arranged in a substantially parallel relation with the drive shaft 30. The portion of the tubular member 36 on one side of the gear 34 constitutes a sun gear fora plurality of planet gears 42. Three planet gears 42 are illustrated but it is to be understood that more or less than this number may be provided as desired.

Each of the planet gears 42 is disposed in a counterbored opening 44 in a carrier member 46 which is rotatably supported on the shaft 40 and has a tubular extension 48 of reduced diameter provided with external teeth 56. Each of the planet gears 42 is rotatably supported on a shaft 52 carried by the carrier 46. The teeth 50 mesh with the teeth on a gear 54 rotatably mounted on the housing 22 and formed integral with a smaller gear 56. The gear 56 in turn meshes with another gear 58 carried by the housing 22. and engaged with a gear 60 carried by the shaft 24.

It can thus be seen that on rotation of the carrier 46 the shaft 24 is driven to in turn drive the roll 16.

The portion of the tubular member 36 on the opposite side of the gear 34 constitutes a sun gear for a plurality of planet gears 62 arranged on the side of the gear 34 opposite the planet gears 42 previously described. Three planet gears 62 are illustrated but it is to be understood that more or less than this number may be used as desired. Each planet gear '62 is disposed in a counterbored opening 64 in a carrier 66 which is rotatably supported on the shaft 40 and is integrally formed with a cam 68 and a hub portion 70 located between the planet carrier 66 and the cam 68. Each of the planet gears 62 is rotatably supported on a shaft 72 carried by the carrier 66.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the cam 68 is partially encircled by one end of a pressure spring assembly 74, the opposite end of which extends diametrically through and is secured to the tube 20. Because it partially encircles the cam 68, the pressure spring assembly 74 is continually maintained in resilient engagement with the cam 68 which is shaped so that when the high side thereof engages the portion of the pressure spring assembly 7-4 thereabove, as shown in FIGURE 2, the roll 16 is resiliently urged into engagement with the shoe 14. When the cam 63 is rotated approximately 180 degrees from the position shown in FIGURE 2, the high side of the cam 68 engages the portion of the pressure spring 74 therebelow so that the roll 16 is held in a position spaced from the shoe 14.

A ring gear having external teeth 82 and internal teeth 84 encircles the planet gears 42 and has its internal teeth 84 positioned in meshing engagement with the gears 42. A similar ring gear 86 having external teeth 88 and internal teeth as encircles the planet gears 62 and has its internal teeth 9% positioned in meshing engagement with the teeth on the gears 62. It can thus be seen that when the ring gear 80 is held so that it cannot rotate, the planet gears 42 are rotated by the sun gear formed on one end of the tubular member 36 so as to rotate the carrier 46 to rotate the roll 16. On the other hand, when the ring gear St is released so that it is free to rotate, rotation of the sun gear merely causes rotation of the planet gears 42 about their shafts 52 so that the carrier 46 remain stationary and the roll '16 is not rotated.

An elongated holding member or arm 92 formed on one end with a tooth or projection 94 is fixed at its opposite end on one end of a sleeve 96 secured by a cross pin 98 to a shaft 100 which is rotatably supported on the gear housing 22. The tooth 94 on the holding member 92 is positioned in the vertical plane of the external teeth 82 on the ring gear 8% so that the tooth 94 is movable into engagement with the ring gear 39 between a pair of adjacent teeth 82 for holding the ring gear 819.

The shaft 1% extends through the housing 22 and one end of lever 1 3 2 (FTGS. 3 and 4) secured thereto so that on swinging movement of the lever 102, the shaft 199 is rotated. The opposite end of the lever 1&2 is offset and is formed with a slot 195 and a pin 1% on the end or" a solenoid plunger or core 110 extends through the slot 106. The core 116 forms a part of a solenoid unit 112 which is operable to reciprocate the core 116* between a pair of positions one of which is illustrated in FIGURE 5. In this position, the unit 112 is de-energized and the position of the core 11% corresponds to a position of the shaft 100 shown in FIGURE 2. In this position of the shaft 1%, the holding member 92 is in an angular position in which the tooth 94 projects into the space between a pair of adjacent teeth 82 on the ring gear 81 If the solenoid unit 112 is energized, the core 110 is moved upwardly as viewed in FIGURE 3 to rotate the lever 1G2 and the shaft 100 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 3 to in turn rotate the holding member 92 through an angle sufiicient to withdraw the tooth 94 from its position between adjacent teeth 82 so that the holding member 92 no longer functions to hold the ring gear 81 against rotation.

An elongated arm 114 is fixed at one end on the sleeve 96 at the end thereof opposite the holding member 92. The opposite or terminal end of the arm 114 is formed with a rounded projection or cam portion 116 which is positioned in the vertical plane of the hub portion 76 of the carrier 6d. The hub portion 79 is formed with a recess 118 of a size and shape to receive the cam portion 116 of the arm 114 and is of a diameter on opposite sides of the recess 118 to maintain the arm 114 in an angular position in which the holding member 92 is in a position such that the tooth 94 is in a clearance relation with the teeth 32 on the ring gear 8G. The recess 118 is positioned in the hub 71} so that the cam portion 116 will ride into the recess 1 18 only when the cam 68 is in a position such that it engages the spring assembly 74 to maintain the ironer roll 16 in engagement with the shoe 14. Consequently, by virtue of the attachment of the holding member 92 and the arm 11% to the common sleeve 95, the ring gear 39 can be held by holding member 92 only when the roll 15 is engaged with the shoe 14. As a result, the roll 16 is rotatable only when it is in engagement with the shoe 14. At all other times, the engagement of the arm 114 with the hub 70 maintains the holding member 92 spaced from the ring gear 80. At such times the lever 102 is moved upwardly as viewed in FIGURE 3 to move the core 114 inwardly of the unit 112.

If a pressing operation, namely, engagement of the roll 16 with the shoe 14 without any rotation of the roll 15, is desired when the roll 16 is against the shoe 14, the solenoid unit 112 is energized, by closing of any suitable switch means (not shown) accessible to the operator, so as to retract the solenoid core 110 to in turn rotate the shaft 1% in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 3, to rotate the holding member 92 so as to move the tooth 94 thereon into a clearance relation with the teeth 82 on the ring gear 81 If the solenoid unit 112 is energized when the roll '16 is spaced from the shoe 14, the core 110 is already in a retracted position and the solenoid unit 112 acts to maintain it in this position.

It can also be seen that when the ring gear 86 is held, the sun gear formed at one end of the tubular member 36 is operable to rotate the planet gears 62 so as to rotate the carrier as to in turn rotate the cam 68 to move the roll 16 toward and away from the shoe 14. On the other hand, when the ring gear as is released so that it is free to rotate, the cam 68 is maintained in a stationary position to in turn maintain a desired position of the roll 16 relative to the shoe 14. The clutch mechanism providing for selective holding of the ring gear is substantially the same as that described in our copending application Serial No. 742,897, filed June 18, 1958, now United States Patent No. 2,956,356, issued October 18, 1960. This mechanism consists of a pair of angularly related leg or holding members 121 and 122 which may be formed as an integral fork shape member 124 fixed at its bight portion on a shaft 126 which is rotatably supported in the housing '22. The holding member 12''? is formed at its terminal end with a radially inwardly directed tooth or projection 128 which is positioned in the vertical plane of the external teeth on the ring gear 86 and is of a size to be received between a pair of adjacent teeth 88 to hold the ring gear as in a fixed position. The terminal end of the holding member 122 is formed with a rounded cam portion 13% of a size to be received in either one of a pair of diametrically opposite recesses 132 formed in the periphery of the carrier as. When the cam portion 131 is riding on the periphery of the carrier 66 between the recesses 132, the holding member 126 is maintained in a position in which the tooth i thereon is between a pair of teeth 88 on the ring gear as. When the cam portion 13:? is opposite either of the recesses 132 so that it is movable into a recess, the holding member 121 is rotatable a distance suificient to withdraw the projection 128 from between a pair of teeth 38 so that it is in a clearance relation with the ring gear 86.

The shaft 126 is parallel to the shaft 1% and projects through one end of the gear housing 22. An irregularly shaped lever 14%), positioned below the lever 102, is secured at one end to the shaft 126 and on its opposite end is formed with a slot 142. A solenoid unit 144 mounted to the housing 22 includes a reciprocatable core or plunger 146 which carries a transverse pin 148 positioned in the slot 142. When the solenoid unit 144 is deenergized, the core 146 is movable to the position shown in FIGURE 3 by a spring 151) secured at its ends to and extended between projections 152 and 154 on the levers 1112 and 140, respectively. In this position of the core 146, the lever 14% is in the position shown in FIGURE 3 and the shaft 126 is in a position in which the cam portion 131) on the holding member 122 projects into a recess 132. When the solenoid unit 144 is energized, the core 146 is moved downwardly as viewed in FIGURE 3 to in turn rotate the shaft 125 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURES 7-10 to move the cam portion out of a recess 132 to a position in which it does not interfere with rotation of the carrier 66. This movement of the core 146 is also effective to move the tooth 128 into engagement with the ring gear 86 between a pair of teeth 88 to hold the ring gear 36, so that the carrier 66 and the cam 68 are rotated to move the roll 16 relative to the shoe 14. Since rotation of the carrier 66 has commenced de-energizing of the solenoid unit 144 has no effect on roll movement until the cam portion 130 is opposite the next recess 132, since the cam portion 13% rides on the outer periphery of the carrier 66 which thus maintains the projection 128 engaged with the ring gear 86. The cam 63 then rotates one hundred and eighty degrees until the cam portion 130 is opposite the other recess 132 at which time it is moved into the recess 132 by the spring 1511, thereby withdrawing the tooth 128 from the ring gear 86 so that movement of the roll 16 is terminated.

In the operation of the ironer 10, assume that the roll 16 is in a position spaced from the shoe so that the cam portion 139 on the leg 122 is disposed in one of the recesses 132 and the tooth 128 is in a clearance relation with the teeth 83 on the ring gear as as shown in FIGURE 7. The cam portion 116 on the arm 114 is riding on the hub 75 at a position spaced from the recess 118 so that the tooth 94 is also in a clearance relation with the teeth 82 on the ring gear 31 so that the roll 16 is not rotating. When movement of the roll 16 into engagement with the shoe 14 is desired, a switch (not shown) is actuated by the operator to close the circuit for the solenoid unit 144 and cause the core 146 to be retracted. This movement of the core 146 rotates the lever 140 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 3 to also rotate the shaft 126 in the same direction to thereby move the fork member 124 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 7 to withdraw the cam portion 130 from the recess 132 and move the tooth 128 into a position between a pair of teeth 88 on the ring gear 86 so that the ring gear 86 is held against rotation. Holding of the ring gear 86 results in rotation of the cam 68 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 7 toward the position shown in FIGURE 8. Only momentary closing of the switch for the solenoid unit 144 is required since, as soon as the cam 68 has started to rotate, the carrier 66 is moved to a position in which the recess 132 from which the cam portion 130 has been withdrawn is out of alignment with the cam portion 130, and the cam portion 135) merely rides on the periphery of the carrier 66 to hold the tooth 128 in engagement with the ring gear 86. A stop bar 145 is secured to each of the cores 110 and 146 for engagement with the respective solenoid casing to prevent more than a desired movement of each core in a direction inwardly of its casing.

In the FIGURE 8 position of the cam 68, the roll 16 has been moved toward the shoe 14 but is still spaced from the shoe 14 so that the recess 118 is not yet in alignment with the cam portion 116. When the cam 68 has been moved to a position in which the roll 16 engages the shoe 14 (FIG. 2), the cam 139 is opposite a recess 132 and the cam portion 116 is opposite the recess 118. Consequently, the cam portions 116 and 130 are moved into their respective recesses 118 and 132, respectively, by the spring 159 so that the tooth 94 engages the ring gear 80 and the tooth 128 is moved out of engagement with the ring gear 86. As a result, the carrier 46 starts to rotate and the rotation of the carrier 66 is discontinued causing, respectively, rotation of the roll 16 and a stopping of the movement of the roll 16 toward the shoe 14 so that articles to be ironed can be fed between the roll and the shoe. If pressing of an article is desired, the operator actuates the switch for the solenoid unit 112 so as to rotate the lever 102 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 3 to in turn rotate the shaft 100 in the same direction and lift the tooth 94- out of engagement with the ring gear 80.

When movement of the roll 16 away from the shoe 14 is desired, the operator actuates the switch for the solenoid unit 144 so as to rotate the shaft 126 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 3 to withdraw the cam portion 139 from the recess 132 and move the tooth 128 into engagement with the ring gear 86 resulting in rotation of the cam 68 from the position shown in FIGURE 2 to- Ward the position shown in FIGURE 9. This results in rotation of the hub portion 76 so as to move the cam portion 116 out of the recess 118 to thereby move the arm 114 in a direction to rotate the sleeve 96 and the holding member 92 so as to move the tooth 94 out of engagement with the ring gear 80, thereby insuring no rotation of the roll 16 while it is spaced from the shoe 14. In FIGURE 9, the cam portion 116 is shown partially withdrawn from the recess 118 and in FIGURE 10 it is completely withdrawn. The roll 16 then moves away from the shoe 14 until the cam 68 reaches the position shown in FIGURE 7, at which time if the solenoid 144 is de-energized, the cam portion 13% is moved into a recess 132 and further movement of the roll 16 is stopped.

It can thus be seen that the only time rotation of the roll 16 can be effected, is when the roll 16 is engaged with the shoe 14. By manipulation of the switches for the solenoid units 112 and 144, the operator can readily control the movement of the roll 16 toward and away from the shoe 14 and the rotation of the roll 16 for both normal ironing and pressing operations.

It will be understood that the specific construction of the improved ironing machine which is herein disclosed and described is presented for purposes of explanation and illustration and is not intended to indicate limits of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an ironing machine having a frame, a shoe and a rotatable roll mounted on the frame for relative movement between a first position engaged with each other and a second position spaced from each other, means for rotating said roll, said means comprising a planetary drive including a first rotatable member, a holding member mounted on said frame adjacent said rotatable member for movement toward and away from the rotatable member to effect holding and prevent rotation thereof, said holding being effective to provide for rotation of said roll, a second rotatable member operable to effect relative movement of said roll and shoe, and means responsive to the position of said second rotatable member for controlling movement of said holding member into engagement with said first rotatable member so that said roll is rotatable only in the engaged position of said roll and shoe.

2. In an ironing machine having a frame, a shoe and a rotatable roll mounted on the frame for relative movement between a first position engaged with each other and a second position spaced from each other, means for rotating said roll, said means comprising a planetary drive including a rotatable member, a holding member mounted on said frame adjacent said rotatable member for movement toward and away from the rotatable member to eifect holding and prevent rotation thereof, said holding being effective to provide for rotation of said roll, a rotatable cam member operable to eifect relative movement of said roll and shoe, and means responsive to the rotated position of said cam member for controlling movement of said holding member into engagement with said first rotatable member so that said roll is rotatable only in the engaged position of said roll and shoe.

3. In an ironing machine having a frame, a shoe and a rotatable roll mounted on the frame for relative movement between a first position engaged with each other and a second position spaced from each other, means for rotating said roll, said means comprising a planetary drive including a rotatable member and a holding member mounted on said frame adjacent said rotatable member for movement toward and away from the rotatable member to effect holding thereof, said holding being effective to provide for rotation of said roll, and a second rotatable member operable to effect relative movement of said roll and shoe means responsive to the position of said second rotatable member for controlling said holding member so that said roll is rotatable only in the engaged position of said roll and shoe.

4. In an ironing machine having a frame, a shoe and a rotatable roll mounted on said frame for relative movement between a first position engaged with each other and a second position spaced from each other, means including a first rotatable drive gear for rotating said roll, a carrier rotatably mounted on said frame and arranged in a driving relation with said roll, a second gear arranged in a driven relation with said drive gear and rotatably supported on said carrier, a ring gear extending about said second gear and arranged in meshing engagement therewith so that when said ring gear is free to rotate it is driven by said second gear in response to rotation of said drive gear and said carrier is stationary, and means mounted on said frame for selective holding engagement with said ring gear so that said carrier is rotated by said second gear in response to rotation of said drive gear when said ring gear is held.

5. In an ironing machine having a frame, a shoe and rotatable roll mounted on said frame for relative move ment between a first position engaged with each other and a second position spaced from each other, means including a first rotatable drive gear for rotating said roll, a second gear arranged in meshing engagement with said first gear, a carrier rotatably mounted on said frame and arranged in a driving relation with said roll, means rotatably supporting said second gear on said carrier, a ring gear extending about said second gear and arranged in meshing engagement therewith so that when said ring gear is free to rotate it is driven by said second gear in response to rotation of said drive gear and said carrier is stationary, and a ring gear holding member pivotally supported on said frame for swinging movement into and out of holding engagement with said ring gear whereby on holding of said ring gear by said holding member said carrier is rotatable to drive said roll.

6. In an ironing machine having a frame, a shoe and rotatble roll mounted on said frame for relative movement between a first position engaged with each other and a second position spaced from each other, means including a first rotatable drive gear for rotating said roll, a second gear arranged in meshing engagement with said first gear, a carrier rotatably mounted on said frame and arranged in a driving relation with said roll, means rotatably supporting said second gear on said carrier, a ring gear extending about said second gear and arranged in meshing engagement therewith so that when said ring gear is free to rotate it is driven by said second gear in response to rotation of said drive gear and said carrier is stationary, a ring gear holding member pivotally supported on said frame for swin ing movement into and out of holding engagement with said ring gear whereby on holding of said ring gear by said holding member said carrier is rotatable to drive said roll, a control arm connected to said holding member for swinging movement therewith, and means engageable with said control arm maintaining it in a position in which said holding member is maintained out of engagement with said ring gear in all positions of said roll except a position engaged with said shoe.

7. In an ironing machine having a frame, a shoe and a rotatable roll mounted on said frame for relative movement between a first position engaged with each other and a second position spaced from each other, means including a first rotatable drive gear for rotating said roll, a second gear arranged in meshing engagement with said first gear, a carrier rotatably mounted on said frame and arranged in a driving relation with said roll, means rotatably supporting said second gear on said carrier, a ring gear extending about said second gear and arranged in meshing engagement therewith said that when said ring gear is free to rotate it is driven by said second gear in response to rotation of said drive gear and said carrier is stationary, means mounted on said frame for holding said ring gear so that said carrier is rotated by said second gear in response to rotation of said drive gear, and means responsive to the relative positions of said roll and shoe for providing for engagement of said holding means with said ring gear only when said roll and shoe are engaged.

8. In an ironing machine having a frame, a shoe and rotatable roll mounted on said frame for relative move ment between a first position engaged with each other and a second position spaced from each other, means including a first rotatable drive gear for rotating said roll, a second gear arranged in meshing engagement with said first gear, a carrier rotatably mounted on said frame and arranged in a driving relation with said roll, means rotatably supporting said second gear on said carrier, a ring gear extending about said second gear and arranged in meshing engagement therewith so that when said ring gear is free to rotate it is driven by said second gear in response to rotation of said drive gear and said carrier is stationary, an arm pivotally mounted on said frame and movable into holding engagement with said ring gear so that said carrier is rotated by said second gear to drive said rol, shaft means secured to and pivotally supporting said arm, rotatable cam means controlling the relative positions of said roll and shoe, a hub portion integral with said cam means, an arm control member secured to said shaft at one end, and spring means urging the opposite end of said control member into engagement with said hub portion, said hub portion being of a shape to maintain said control member in a position in which said arm is maintained out of engagement with said ring gear in all positions of said roll except a position engaged with said shoe.

9. in an ironing machine having a frame, a shoe and rotatable roll mounted on said frame for relative movement between a first position engaged with each other and a second position spaced from each other, means including a first rotatable drive gear for rotating said roll, a second gear arranged in meshing engagement with said first gear, a carrier rotatably mounted on said frame and arranged in a driving relation with said roll, means rotatably supporting said second gear on said carrier, a ring gear extending about said second gear and arranged in meshing engagement therewith so that when said ring gear is free to rotate it is driven by said second gear in response to rotation of said drive gear and said carrier is stationary, an arm pivotally mounted on said frame and movable into holding engagement with said ring gear so that said carrier is rotated by said second gear to drive said roll; shaft means secured to and pivotally supporting said arm, rotatable cam means controlling the relative positions of said roll and shoe, a hub portion integral with said cam means, an arm control member secured to said shaft at one end, spring means urging the opposite end of said control member into engagement with said hub portion, said hub portion being of a shape to maintain said control member in a position in which said arm is maintained out of engagement with said ring gear in all positions of said roll except a position engaged with said shoe, lever means connected to said control memher, and solenoid means operatively associated with said lever means for moving said lever means in a direction to move said control member to said position in all positions of said roll and shoe.

10. In an ironing machine having a frame, a shoe and rotatable roll mounted on said frame for relative movement between a first position engaged with each other and a second position spaced from each other, means including a first rotatable sun gear for rotating said roll, a first planet gear arranged in meshing engagement with said first sun gear, a carrier rotatably mounted on said frame and arranged in a driving relation with said roll, means rotatably supporting said first planet gear on said carrier, a first ring gear extending about said first planet gear and arranged in meshing engagement therewith so that when said ring gear is free to rotate it is driven by said first planet gear in response to rotation of said sun gear and said carrier is stationary, means mounted on said frame for holding said ring gear so that said carrier is rotated by said first planet gear in response to rotation of said first sun gear, means responsive to the relative positions of said roll and shoe for providing for engagement of said holding means with said ring gear only when said roll and shoe are engaged, a rotatable cam member operable to provide for relative movement of said roll and shoe, a second carrier operable to drive said cam member, a second planet gear mounted on said second carrier, a second ring gear extending about said second planet gear, means for selectively holding said second ring gear to provide for rotation of said second carrier in response to driving of said second planet gear, and sun gear means formed integral with said first sun gear for driving said second planet gear.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,994,910 Emery Mar. 19, 1935 2,325,448 Wardwell July 27, 1943 2,363,518 Ferris Nov. 28, 1944 

1. IN AN IRONING MACHINE HAVING A FRAME, A SHOE AND A ROTATABLE ROLL MOUNTED ON THE FRAME FOR RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION ENGAGED WITH EACH OTHER AND A SECOND POSITION SPACED FROM EACH OTHER, MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID ROLL, SAID MEANS COMPRISING A PLANETARY DRIVE INCLUDING A FIRST ROTATABLE MEMBER, A HOLDING MEMBER MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME ADJACENT SAID ROTATABLE MEMBER FOR MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE ROTATABLE MEMBER TO EFFECT HOLDING AND PREVENT ROTATION THEREOF, SAID HOLDING BEING EFFECTIVE TO PROVIDE FOR ROTATION OF SAID ROLL, A SECOND ROTATABLE MEMBER OPERABLE TO EFFECT RELATIVE MOVEMENT OF SAID ROLL AND SHOE, AND MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE POSITION OF SAID SECOND ROTATABLE MEMBER FOR CONTROLLING MOVEMENT OF SAID HOLDING MEMBER INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH 